Improvement in processes of making letters in gold or silver leaf on glass



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

MANNING D. LAMOREAUX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF MAKING LETTERS IN GOLD 0R SILVER LEAF 0N GLASS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,253, dated April 15, 1879; application filed November 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MANNING D. LAMOR- EAUX, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Process for Making Letters on Glass or other smooth surfaces with Gold or Silver Leaf, which process is fully set forth in the following specification.

The object of my invention is to make the art of forming letters upon glass or other surfaces with gold or silver leaf more simple, and at the same time to produce on all other surfaces except that of glass results which cannot be obtained by any other method.

In this process a pattern of the design required is made of any material suitable for the purpose, and is used to cover or protect the gold or silver leaf used, and allow the rubbing or brushing off of the superfluous leaf, thus leaving the desired object upon the surface on which the leaf is laid.

In the ordinary way of making ornaments of this description on glass,the leaf is laid or caused to adhere to the surface of the glass by means of a sizing made of isinglass or gelatine and water, and is then backed up-that is, painted over-in the form or shape desired to be shown upon the glass, with asphaltum or other material suitable for the purpose, (this work being done with a brush,) and when this backing-up is dry the superfluous leaf is removed by Washing the glass, when the leaf comes 0E from those places not covered by the backing, thus lelaving the desired form or shape upon the g ass.

In making letters upon glass by my process the same course is adopted in applying the leaf but in all the other parts the work is done in an entirely different manner, no backing up of the leaf being required in order to remove the superfluous part of the same, as it is done in this process by covering the leaf with a pattern, and rubbing or brushing off that portion not covered or protected by the pattern with a moist cloth or brush, which, as the leaf simply adheres to the glass by means of the water sizing, is very easily done, and requires but very little or no more time than to wash off the glass after the leaf is backed up by the old method, and can be done as well by persons but little skilled in the art as by a skillful mechanic, whereas it requires great skill in backing up in the old method, thus making work done in this manner much cheaper than that done in any other way and as all work is after the cm amenting or lettering grounded, it will be seen that the leaf is equally as well protected from accidents, either by water or rubbing, in this process as in any other.

I am aware that a stencil has been tried for the purpose of backing up the leaf; but it is impracticable in practical use, as the asphalturn or other material used flows under the edges of the stencil, thus making the edges of the letters rough and jagged, and making very bad and imperfect work.

By this process lettering can be done on japanned tin or on any smooth surface which is utterly impossible to make or imitate by any means other than this method.

In the first place it must be understood that no such burnish or luster can be produced on the surface of leaf as that to be acquired when water sizing is used in laying it on, or causing it to adhere to the surface upon which it is used.

In the laying of leaf upon opaque surfaces, it is necessary by all other methods to use an oil or other sizing which is not afiected by water, which will cause the leaf to firmly adhere to the surface upon which it is required to be used, the sizing being applied in the exact shape of the letter to be made, thus holding the leaf in the shape required, and enabling the superfluous leaf to be washed or rubbed off; and as such a sizing must be used in this method, no such burnish or luster can be produced on the surface of the leaf as can be obtained by the new process, in which I am able to use a water size equally as well as if work ing upon glass, the work being done in the same manner, and the entire surface afterward covered with a thin coat of varnish to make it impervious to water or moisture.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

A process for making letters on glass or other smooth surfaces in gold or silver leaf, when used with a transparent or water sizing, by means of a pattern of the required shape, which is placed over the leaf, and which enables the brushing or washing off of the superfluous leaf, leaving the letter in gold or silver on the surface upon which the leaf has been laid.

M. D. LAMOREAUX. Witnesses:

OHAs. T. SLEEPER, MAX SoNNENsoHEIN. 

